Top 10 Car Gadgets You Won't Want To Live Without (luxury car, tires, valve)

[getmeoutofhere]

Originally Posted by Trucker7

I wouldn't mind having remote start on my truck for those chilly mornings. But my truck is stick, and I know that someday I'll forget and leave it in gear and my truck will end up in somebody's porch 3 blocks away.

I wouldn't worry about it. It's very difficult to put remote start in a manual and most places won't do it.

[getmeoutofhere]

Originally Posted by Drover

So what if WMA is a Microsoft format? Whether Apple likes it or not, the WMA format has broad compatibility with other media devices be it DVD players, car stereo CD players, or portable media devices made by just about everyone else besides Apple. It wouldn't hurt Apple to make their devices WMA-compatible, and not doing so accomplishes nothing but a futile gesture (namely a middle finger) to Microsoft, who in turn could not care less.

As for the notion that WMAs suck... size-for-size they offer better sound quality than mp3s; and at bitrates that matter to me (256 or 320kbps), they are indistinguishable from .aac but take up a heck of a lot less space.

Well, apparently, not allowing WMA's has worked out rather well for Apple. Why support the opposition.

And WMA's offer better sound quality at lower bitrates. At higher ones, like 256 or 320, MP3's are better.

[TheViking85]

Originally Posted by jc76

I agree that's why I have a Zune, Microsofts answer to the iPod and VERY under rated. I hate iPods, I'll take my Zune any day.

Screw both of 'em, I buy Creative .mp3 players and they do both apple and Windows files. Plus, I don't have to use some stupid program to put the song on the player, just drag and drop.

[jc76]

Originally Posted by TheViking85

Screw both of 'em, I buy Creative .mp3 players and they do both apple and Windows files. Plus, I don't have to use some stupid program to put the song on the player, just drag and drop.

Yeah having to have software for my Zune does suck, but compared to the iPod the Zune offers more. It's like the underdog, but it's Microsofts fault for poor advertising and little to no promo spots.

[Pruzhany]

And the heated seats ........

I've got it in all my cars. No future car will be purchased without it.

The bluetooth was a nice idea if all technology worked well with it. But when I connect my cell to my car its hit or miss on the voice commands ( most times its a miss) I gave up on it in one of my cars and bought a T305 bluetooth for $50 that works much better.

At this time all cars should have a MP3 jack, but most don't. And how about installing a MP3 holder on the dash, how much sense that would make. Making something the size of a pack of cigs should suffice for a ipod or a Zune. But no, I either have a hole on the left of steering column in one car or a hole near in floor on another or sitting on the inside of the storage area in the center armrest. I end up either losing a cup holder or velcro it to the dash.

As to the Lane Departure Warning System, if many don't do anything when they hit the rumble strips why would someone think a tiny noise would make a difference. Think about the turn signal you watch for miles on end and you know your dash makes a noise when its activated. And how many of us rememeber when the signal notification was on the hood of the car?

[round tuit]

Originally Posted by NeilVA

And how many of us rememeber when the signal notification was on the hood of the car?

Nope...how did that work?

[IDASpaceman]

Onstar/Bluetooth, heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel, XM radio and premium stereo, and parking sensors are something I would not want to live without. Thank you Cadillac.

[TheViking85]

Originally Posted by jc76

Yeah having to have software for my Zune does suck, but compared to the iPod the Zune offers more. It's like the underdog, but it's Microsofts fault for poor advertising and little to no promo spots.

Looked into Creative though? Great players that I personally think trumps both the iPod and the Zune. They come with varying internal storage, generally less than the iPod at least, but it has a memory card slot, so you'll technically have infinite storage space. Screens are more than good enough to play video on and Creative routinely releases updates for the software, they're small and sturdy and fits easily in your jeans pockets.

The software, as far as making playlists etc might not be the greatest and most intuitive, but then, I haven't really played around with it an awful lot, so it might just be me not knowing the system well enough.(I generally load onto the player what songs I want to hear at any given time and listen to all of them.)

[round tuit]

The Crosley Corporation introduced the first car radio, the Roamio, in 1930. It was sold as an aftermarket accessory and was a 6 volt system. Examples are found on e-bay every day and quite a few of them are either working or can be relatively simply repaired.


Crosley (http://modernmktg.com/Products/Crosley/tabid/2703/Default.aspx - broken link)

[skinem]

Originally Posted by round tuit

The Crosley Corporation introduced the first car radio, the Roamio, in 1930. It was sold as an aftermarket accessory and was a 6 volt system. Examples are found on e-bay every day and quite a few of them are either working or can be relatively simply repaired.


Crosley (http://modernmktg.com/Products/Crosley/tabid/2703/Default.aspx - broken link)

And was immediately decried as a distraction to drivers, and making a car not a proper place for a lady.

Seriously.